Adjustable throw gyrating mechanism



May 23, 1944. L TEPLQW v 2,349,778

l ADJUSTABLE THROW' GYBATING MEGHANISM Filed July 50, 1942 Patented May 23, 1944 ADJUSTABLE 'rnaow GYRATING MECHANISM Leo Teplow, Milwaukee, Wis., assigner to Allis- Chalmers Manufacturing Company, Milwaukee, Wis., avcorporation of lDelaware application July so, 1942, serial No. 452,837

. 9 Claims.

' This invention relates` generally to vibrating apparatus'and more particularly to mechanism operative to vibrate an associated structure with selected degrees of amplitude by means 'of a rotary element embodying angularly displaceable eccentric masses effective to vary 'the center of mass and thereby, its axis of gyration. f

The invention is particularly applicable, although in no manner limited, as an actuating means for vibrating screens and the like in which it is often desirable and sometimes necessary to vary the amplitude of the vibrations in accordance with the nature of the material undergoing treatment. In such applications, the axis of the rotary element, which is usually a pulley driven shaft provided with angularly dis placeable eccentric masses for varying its center of mass, must bemaintained in substantial coincidence with its center of mass during normal operation in order to provide a smooth drive and prevent excessive wear and strainV on the driving and driven parts. y l

In this connection, it has heretofore been proposed to employ a concentric pulley driven shaft mounted for rotation and lateral displacement within a pair of spaced, coaxial annular bear` ings onthe structure to be vibrated` by means of pairs of inner and outer angularly displaceable counter weighted eccentric rings or balance wheels which are connected and mounted for l' rotation asunits on the outer periphery of said bearings and which have the outer wheel of each pair provided with a central hub portion secured to the adjacent end of said shaft. lThis known construction provides means vfor varying the effective eccentricity of the masses by angularly displacing said eccentric rings and the eccentricity of said rings is such that the axis of said shaft is always maintained in substantial coincidence with its center of mass. However, said known construction is objectionable in that it necessitates employing overhung bearing supports and extremely large bearings which is conducive to excessive local vibrationand materially increases manufacturing installation and maintenance costs, and in that a relative i angular displacement of said eccentric wheels is difficult and time consuming since the driven shaft, which is quite massive, is also displaced.

In this connection, it has also been proposed to employ an eccentrically counterweighted driven shaft which is rotatably mounted in axially spaced bearings concentricallydisposed in the structure to be vibrated and to rotate said mounted `for coaxial rotation on a fixed structure and which is drivingly connected (1) with an `intermediate,balance wheel carrying portion of` said shaft -by` means of an intermediate transmission plate' having pin and slot connections with slots and pins provided in the opposed faces of said flywheel and pulley, respectively, thereby permitting translatory movement betweenl said shaft and pulley and (2) vwith the adjacent end of said shaft by means of an annular element connected to rotate coaxially with said pulley and' connected with saidend of the shaft by pivotal links permitting translatory movement l between said end of the shaft and said element.

Thisfkno-wn construction provides for varying the effective eccentric mass by the addition or removal of weights` and since the pulley axis is fixed, it also provides a lsmooth drive. However, this -known structure is also objectionable in that no means areprovided for reducing the eccentric mass `effectof the flywheels except by replacing samewith lighter wheels, and in that saidconstruction requires two additional bearings, one forthe pulley and one for the element which rotates coaxially with said pulley and additional featuressuch ,as the `pin and link connections which materially increases manufacturing, installation and maintenance costs.

It is therefore the object of this invention to provide an improved mechanism embodying a rotatable element and angularly displaceable eccentric masses which is operative to vibrate an associated structure with selected degrees of amplitude and which will eliminate the aforementioned defects of the heretofore known constructions by eifecting one or more of the following results and/or advantages: (l) eliminate Vthe use of overhung bearings and reduce the size and/or the number of the bearings; (2) position and maintain the driven pulley drivingly connected with `the rotary element with the center of the pulley in substantial coincidence with the center of mass of the rotary element as determined by the relative positions of the eccentric masses, thereby providing a smooth drive; (3) facilitate relative angular displacement of the eccentric masses and therebyv a-translation of the driven pulley to a position in substantial coincidence with the new center of mass; and (4) produce a more compact, simplified and durable construction. i `I A In accordance with this invention, one or more of the aforementioned results and/or advantages may be obtained' by' a construction emshaftby means of a driven pulley which is bodying a shaft supportedA for rotation in a structure adapted to be vibrated, eccentric weights carried by said shaft for relative angular adjustment thereon, a pulley connected with said shaft for relative translatory movement transversely to the axis of the shaft and for rotating said shaft as said pulley is turned, and cornpound eccentric meansrrendering the angular adjustment of one of said eccentric Weights effective to translate said pulley relative to said shaft and to a position in which the center of the pulley is in substantial coincidence with the center of mass.

The invention accordingly consists of the various features of construction, `ci'nnbi.nations of elements and arrangements .of parts as more fully set out in the appended claims and inthe detailed description, reference being had to the y accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates a vibrating screen drive enibodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a partial section taken on line II.-II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 graphically illustrates the llocus of the center of mass and the locus of the resulting or effective centrifugal force produced by angularly adjusting one eccentric Weight in a clockwise direction through an angle of 180 from an `inphase position relative to the other eccentric weight;

Fig. 4 illustrates a modified construction embodying the invention; and

Fig. v5 is a partial end view of the structure shown in Fig. 4. v

Referring to Fig. 1, it is seen that the invention is applied to a vibrating screen embodying a frame formed by side Walls 2 and 3, an upper deck structure 4, a lower deck structure 6, and an intermediate vroller bearing spacer pipe or tube 7. The frame is suspended for gyratory movement from a plurality of fixed; spaced supports 8 by means of compression springs 9 and interconnecting rods |I. The frame construction and the manner in which it is mounted are conventional and a further description in this connection is unnecessary for a complete understanding -of the present invention.

A drive shaft I2 extends through the tube and is rotatably mounted in opposed portions of the side walls 2 and 3 by means of conventional roller bearings I3 disposed in bearing housings I4 carried by said opposed wall portions. In this connection, it should be noted that each bearing and its housing are supported by a side Wall portion in substantially symmetrical relation with respect to the opposite sides of said wall portion thereby eliminating the shear stresses inherently set up in the frame side walls by an overhung bearing struct-ure. Shaft |2` embodies an eccentric mass or weight I6 intermediate its bearing supported end portions and said end portions. andthe portions which project outwardly beyond said bearings are concentric with respect to each otherand with respect to the bearings and bearing housings. Mounted on the portion of shaft I2 adjacent the outer surface of each bearing is a bearingretaining and seal collar Ill Y which coacts with an interposed seal platel Id removably mounted on the adiacent bearing housing I4.

Each end of shaft |-2 has keyed thereon an ec centrically weighted wheel I9 which has (see Fis- 2) a plurality of crcumferentiany spaced keyways y2) formed inthe inner surface of its hub portion. to permit said Wheel being mounted cn said shaft in different angular positions in.

Ipulley. formed -integral with the grooved pulley 23 as shown, is drivingly connected with the adjacent order to vary the resultant of the centrifugal forces produced by the eccentric weights embodied in the shaft and wheel. Each wheel I9 end of the shaft I 2 for translatory, but not angugtlar, movement relative thereto by means of a `coupling ,element '24 having on one face thereof a diametral rib 26 disposed in a conforming slot l2:'l extending entirely across the shaft end of the pulleyhub and having on its other face a similar diametral rib 28 which is disposed at right angles withrespect to the rib 26 Yand which is Vdisposed Within :a conformingslot 29 extending entirely across the adjacent end of the shaft I2. The pulley is maintained in driving engagement with the shaft I2 by fmeans of a retaining cap screw l3| which extends through alined bores 32 and 33 in the pulley and coupling element, respectively, and linto the threaded coaxial bore 34 in the adjacent end 0f the vshaft I2, and it should be obvious that if the grooved pulley is turned, the pulley, the Wheels I9, the collar v2| and the shaft I2, which -is Irotatably supported in the bearings I3, rotate as a unit.

The -collarZI and the hub `22 are combined to form a compound eccentric of which one eccentric, the collar 2|, can be aneularly adjusted relative to the other eccentric, the lhub 22, and relative to the shaft I2; such adjustment of the grooved pulley in this case being effected by removing Athe pulley and .the wheel from the shaft, by .turning the wheel I9 on the hub portion 22 until the selected keyway 20 (see Fig. 2) is positioned for alii-rement with the keyway in the shaft I2, and by then replacing the pulley and wheel on the shaft. A similar adjustment of the ungrooved pulley can .be effected merely by loosening cap screw 3|, and turning wheel I9; the venlarged bore 32 permitting its displacement. Asimilar turning .of wheels I9 and collars 2| on the pulley hubs 22 angularly displaces the wheels I9 and thereby their eccentric masses relative to .the eccentric mass II on the shaft I2 and translates the center of the grooved pulley relative to the adjacent end of the shaft and to a position determined -by the vector sum of the eccentricities of the hub and collar bore. The grooved pulley is rendered free for translation or translatory `movement in response to any and all relative angular adjustments of its associated eccentrics by making the diameters of the bores 32 and 33 sufficiently greater than the diameter oi' cap screw 3| and the diameter of the coupling element 24 sufficiently less than the diameter of the pulley hub 22,v to permit the maximum displacement whichV can be effected by said eccentrics.

Rotation of a freely supported shaft or the like embodying an eccentric weight or a plurality of -angularly displaced eccentric weights produces a plurality of angularly displaced eccentric weights to a rotatably supported concentric shaft results in the center of mass of the shaft being displaced from the center of rotation along the line of action of the resultant unbalanced centrifugal force a distance proportional to the combined effect of said weights. Therefore, since the center of mass of a rotating gyrating body is the only fixed point thereon, it is essential, in order to obtain a smooth drive,vto place and maintain the center of the pulley which is drivingly connected with said shaft in substantial coincidence with the center of mass for all positions of said eccentric weights.v In order to accomplish this result, the eccentricity of the bore in the collar portion 2| of wheels I9 and the eccentricity of the hub portion 22 of pulleys 23 are each made proportional in magnitude to the mass of a different one of the eccentric weights, i, e., the magnitude of one eccentric is made proportional to the eccentric mass I6 which is fixed on the shaft I2 and the magnitude of the other eccentric is made proportional to the eccentric masses on the angularly adjustable wheels I9, and the collar and hub portion are combined to produce a net eccentricity which is proportional in magnitude and corresponds in direction to the magnitude and direction of the resultant of the centrifugalforces produced b'y said eccentric weights for all positions thereof. Stated differently, the bore in the collar portion 2| of wheels I9 and the hub portion 22 of pulleys 23 are combined to form a compound eccentric having a net eccentricity proportional to the resultant of the centrifugal forces produced by the eccentric weights, i. e., the eccentric masses embodied in the wheels I9 and shaft I2, for all positions thereof.

As shown in Fig. 1, the position of the eccentrically weighted wheels I9 is such that during normal rotation, the resultant unbalanced centrifugal force W2, acts in phase with the un` balanced centrifugal force, WI, produced by the eccentric mass I6 xed on the shaft I2. The resultant unbalanced centrifugal force,` R, `acting to gyrate lthe structure is always equal to the vector sum of the forces WI and W2 and when said forces are equal and in phase, the resultant is equal to 2WI or 2W2 as indicated bythe full line vectors Wl,` W2 and Rin Fig. 3. Referring again to Fig. 3, which graphicallyvillustra'tes and exaggerates the results obtained by a relative a'ngular adjustment of the eccentric weights producing the equal force vectorsWI and W2, it is seen that when the wheels I9 are pos'itionedon the shaft l2 to bring the force vector W2 in phase with the forcevector WI (assuming that the shaft I2, wheels I9 and pulley 23 haverst been turned as a unit through an angle 180 from the position shown in Fig. 1), the result is a displacementrof the center of mass from point A to point B; that as the wheels I9 are angularly adjusted on shaft I2 to cause force vector W2 tc move clockwise thereby effecting a smooth drive.

equals the vector sum of El, the eccentrically of lthe bore in collar 2 I, and E2, the eccentricity of the pulley hub 22, must coincide with the locus of the center of mass; and that when the force vectors WI and W2 are equal, the eccentricity vectors EI and E2 must be equal and proportional in magnitude to the force ",vectors. The results obtained by a clockwise movement of the wheels I9 through an angle of 90 from the position shown in Fig. 1, assuming that the shaft l2, wheels I9 and pulley 23 have first been turned as a unit through an angle of 180, is clearly illusgated byV the dotted line vectors W2, R, E2, and I It should therefore be obvious that with. the eccentric weights positioned as indicated in 1, the center of thebearing end'of the shaft I2, the bearings I3, the bearing housing I4 and the structure associated therewith will gyrate about an axis coincident with point B, the center of mass, with a radius of gyration equal to AB; that the center of thepulley 23 will coincide with the point or center B; and that therefore the pulley rotates on a fixed point, the center of mass B,` The same is true for all positions of the eccentric weights since the eccentricity vof the bore in the collar 2I and the eccentricity of the pulley hub 22 are such that the net or resultant eccentricity RI effects a translatory movement of the pulley transversely to the axis of the shaft to a position in which its center is in substantial coincidence with the new center of mass. For example, when the wheels I9 are moved clockwise through an angle of 90 as shown in Fig. 3, the new center of mass is BI and the structure gyrates about an axis coincident with said center with a radius of gyration equal to AB, and when the wheels I9 are moved through an angle of 180, the center of mass is coincident with point A, the axis of the bearings or the axis of the bearing ends of the shaftv I2, and no gyration occurs since vthe structure is dynamically balanced, i. e., the unbalanced'centrifugal forces Wl and W2 are equal and opposite. However, if the eccentrically weighted wheels I9 and the eccentric mass I6 do not produce equal effects, i. e., equal unbalanced centrifual forces, a displacement of the wheels I9'through an angle of 180 will not effect a dynamic balance and consequently the structure will continue to gyrate about an axis coincident with the center of mass, with a minimum radius of gyration proportional to `the effective or resultant unbalanced cen` trifugal force R.

through an angle of 180 from its full line pcsition, the locus of the resultant or effective gyratf ing force R equals the vector sum of WI plus W2, is represented by dotted line curve G, the locus of the center of mass is represented by dotted line curve C and the locus tric bore in the collar 2| is represented by `dotted line curve F; that if the center of the pulley 23 is to be in substantial coincidence with the center of mass, i; e., the axis of gyration of `the rotating of the center of the ecceno element, for all positions of the eccentric weights,

the locus 0f the net or resultant eccentrically RI Referring to the modified construction shown in Figs. 4 and 5 in which like numerals are used to designatethesame or similar parts, it is seen that this construction will afford all of theedvantages inherent in the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and differs therefrom only in the manner in which the wheels I9 associated with the grooved pulley v23 are secured for angular adjustment on the bearing end of the shaft I2. In this modification, the hub portion of the wheels I9 is provided with a circumferential series of tapped radial holes 36 andthewheels are secured to the shaft I2 by means of a cap screw 31 which may be disposed in any of` said holes and turned to project into the slot orthe like 38 provided in the shaft I2. Ifr a slot is used, it is preferable to employ a cap screw having an unthreaded tapered end portion 39 and a filler piece 4I which is disposed in said slot and has an opening 42 therein conforming withthe shape of `the unthreaded end portion of the cap screw as shown.

the` Wheels, I9 and thereby a translation of the pulley zscreiauvetothe end of the snaftlz with;

out first removing,theWheels-,andthe pulley from said. shaft.. u

lTI-lie invention is applicable to any,V mechanismA operative to vibrate an associated structure -With selected degrees of amplitude by means ofy a rotary` element embodying angularly displaceable eccentric massesv effective tov displace its center of mass or1 its axisrufvgyration relative to` the axis of rotation, and although the invention is illustrated as applied to a double deck vibrating screen embodying' a rotatable shaftr supported by' two axially: spaced bearings, it should be understood that the invention is also4 applicable toelements rotatably supported by only a single bearing and that it isnot intended to limit the inventionv to the exactdeta'ils of construction hereinl shown and described as .various modifications within the scopey of the appended claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.` I I y It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patente v1 1. Gyrating mechanism comprising a shaft rotatably supported in Ia.structure.adapted to be gyrated, eccentric Weights. carriedl by said shaft for relative angular adjustment-thereon, a pulley connected .with said shaft for translatorymovement 4relative .thereto and forrotatingsaid shaft as said, pulley is turned, and compound eccentric means yrendering the angular adjustment of one 3f-.said eccentricfweights effective to translate said pulley relative to said, shaft and to a position invvwhich the` `center of the pulley is in sub-v stantial coincidence with .the axis about which the shaft willy gyrate When rotated.

2. Gyrating-mechanismcomprising a shaft rotatably supported in. a structure adapted to be gyrated, eccentric Weights' carried bysaid shaft for relative yangular adjustment thereon, a pulley connected `vvith .said shaft for translatory movementrelative thereto and for rotating said shaft as said pulley is turnechand compound eccentric means renderingrthe. angular adjustment of one ofjsaid eccentric Weights. effective to translate said pulley relativeitosaid shaft,l said compound eccentric 4means having a net eccentricity proportional to theresultant of the centrifugal forces produced ,byI said eccentric Weights whereby the center vf the pulley is maintained in substan-v tial coincidence With the axis about which the shaft vvvill gyrate for all positions yof said Weights. y 3. Gyrating mechanism comprising al shaft rotatablv SuppQrted,1in-@Structure tombe syrated and havingan eccentric Weight thereon, an eccentrically Weightedmember carried by saidshaftfor relativeV angular adjustment thereon, a pulley'carryingmexnber connected with an end offsaid shaft for translatory movement relative theretoand for rotatingsaid shaft as said pulley is ,turned'and a compound eccentric having a net eccentricity proportional to theresultant of the centrifugal forces 'produced byr said eccentric Weights for all pbsit'ion'sthereof, said "eccentrics interconnecting,saidemembeis and rendering the angular adjustment A'of ysaid eccentrically weighted member effective to translatesaid pulley relative to, said shaftandfto a position in which the center of 'the pulley isinsubstantial coincidence With'the axis about which thev shaft will gyrate when rotatedv as'determined by said eccentric Weightslwhen in any of said positions.

"4, Gyra'ting mechanism comprising an eccentrically. Weighted shaft rotatably mounted lin va structure adapted to be gyrated, and a compound eccentric disposed on an end portion of said shaft and including an eccentrically Weighted member mounted for relative angular adjustment thereon and a pulley connected with said end of the shaft for translatory movement relative kthereto and for rotating said shaft as said pulley'is turned, said compound eccentric having a net eccentricity proportional to the resultant of the centrifugal forces produced by said eccentric Weights for all positions thereof and being effective in response to the angular adjustment of said eccentrically weighted member to translate the center of the pulley to a position in substantial coincidence with the axis about which the shaft will gyrate whenrotated as determined by said eccentric weights in. any of said positions.

5. Gyrating mechanism comprising avshaft rotatably mounted in a structure adapted to be gyrated and having an` eccentric Weight thereon, an eccentrically weighted member carried by said shaft for relative angular movement thereon, a pulley carrying member connected with said shaft for translatorymovement relative thereto and for rotating said shaft as said pulley is turned, and an eccentric carried by each of said members, said eccentrics each having a magnitude proportional to the massof a different one of said eccentric .Weights and being compounded to produce a resultant eccentricity which is proportional in magnitude andcorrespondsin direction to the magnitude and directionof theresultant of the centrifugal forces produced by said eccentric Weights whereby the angular adjustment of said eccentrically weighted member translates said pulley relative to` saidy shaft and to a lposition in which the center of the pulley is in substantial coincidence with the axis about which the shaft Will gyrate when rotated. i

6. Gyrating mechanism comprising a vshaft rotatably-.mounted in astructureadapted to be gyrated andv having. an eccentric. Weightthereon, an eccentrically Weighted member carried by said shaft for` relative angular adjustment thereon, said eccentrically Weighted member including an eccentrically. bored portion` extending beyond and yexposing anend portionnof said shaft, apulley carrying member .havingy an eccentric portion mountedin said bore, and means connecting the eccentric portion ofthe pulley carrying member with said end of the shaft for translatory movement relative thereto and, for rotating` said shaft as said pulley is turned, said eccentric portion and bore constituting a compoundv eccentric having a net eccentricity for all positions of saidV Weights which renders the angular adjustment of f said weighted member effective to translate said pulley relative to (said, shaft and to a position in which the center of the pulley is insubstantial coincidence with the axis about which the shaft vvillgyrate when rotated. f i

7.v Gryrating mechanism comprising a shaft rotatably mounted in a structure adapted to be gyrated and having an eccentric Weight thereon, an eccentrically Weighted member carried by 'said shaftfor relative angular' adjustment thereon, said eccentrically Weightedmember including an eccentrically bored portion lextending beyond and exposing an end portion of said shaft, av pulley carrying member having an eccentric" portion mounted in said bore, and means connecting the eccentric portion of the pulley carryingme'mber with said end' of the shaft for translatory movement relative thereto andforrotatin'g said Vshaft as said pulley is turned, said eccentric portion and bore each having an eccentricity proportional to the mass of a different one of said eccentric Weights thereby producing a resultant eccentricity which is proportional in magnitude and corresponds in direction to the magnitude and direction of the resultant of the centrifugal forces produced by said eccentric Weights whereby the angular adjustment of said eccentrically Weighted member translates said pulley relative to said shaft and to a position in which the center of the pulley is in substantial coincidence with the axis about which the shaft Will gyrate when rotated.

8. A vibrating system comprising a body to be vibrated, a shaft bearing supported by a Wall portion of said body in substantially symmetrical relation with respect to the opposite sides of said wall portion, a shaft mounted in said bearing, eccentric Weights carried by said shaft for relative angular adjustment thereon, a pulley connected With said shaft for translatory movement relative thereto and for rotating said shaft as said pulley is turned, and compound eccentric means rendering the angular adjustment of one of said eccentric weights effective to translate said pulley relative to said shaft and to a position in which the center of the pulley is in substantial coincidence with the axis about which the shaft Will gyrate When rotated.

9. A vibrating system comprising a body to be vibrated, a pair of axially spaced shaft bearings supported by opposed Wall portions of said body in substantially symmetrical relation with respect to the opposite sides of said portions, a shaft eccentrically Weighted intermediate its ends and having its opposite end portions journaled in said bearings, eccentric weights carried by the end portions of said shaft for angular adjustment thereon, a pulley connected With one end of said shaft for translatory movement relative thereto and for rotating said shaft as said pulley is turned, and compound eccentric means rendering the angular adjustment of the proximate one of said eccentric Weights effective to translate said pulley relative to said shaft and to a position in which the center of the pulley is in substantial coincidence with the axis about which the shaft Will gyrate when rotated.

LEO TEPLOW. 

